Liquid burning fuel



Patented Aug 14, 1951 LIQUID BURNING FUEL .George A. Rleke, Chicago,II].

No Drawing. Application June 27, 1950, Serial No. 170,690

6 Claims. (Cl. 44--80) This invention relates to a liquid burning fueland particularly to an improved fuel for internal combustion engines. I

A fuel embodying features of this invention is characterized by itsability to revitalize old and sluggish engines and to provide greaterpower output per unit quantity of fuel consumed responsive to moreefficient burning coupled with the formation of a minimum amount ofsludge. The apparent effect of burning fuel embodying features of thisinvention corresponds to that obtained by the incorporation ofanti-knock' agents in a fuel composition for the purpose of increasingits octane value. The undesirable effects resulting from the use ofunstable alkyl metal compounds, such as tetraethyl lead, to increase theoctane value are avoided because the ingredients added to the fuelcomposition in accordance with this invention is relatively stable underall conditions to which the fuel might be exposed.

Another important feature in this invention resides in the improvedlubricating characteristics which exist on the surfaces exposed to orassociated with the combustion chamber. More important, the fuel appearsto have excellent anti-sludge characteristics and it has the ability toremove sludge, carbon or other decomposition products which influencethe sluggishness of the motor.

In accordance with this invention a new and improved fuel for internalcombustion engines is compounded by the addition to gasoline or likefuel of a small amount of a partially hydrogenated aryl compound inliquid phase. Greatest benefit is derived from the use of partiallyhydrogenated phenyls and particularly, the partially hydrogenatedisomeric biphenyls, terphenyls, quaterphenyls, and other polyphenyls.Generally a compound such as a terphenyl is in a solid state whenunhydrogenated or when completely hydrogenated yet it exists in a liquidstate when partially hydrogenated in accordance with its use in thisinvention.

Suitable compounds for the practise of this invention may be selected ofthe aryl compounds or polyphenyls which have been hydrogenated to anextent ranging from thirty to sixty percent of complete hydrogenation,that is when the carbon atoms existing in the molecule are provided withthirty to sixty percent of the hydrogen could be added completely tosatisfy the compound. It will be apparent that in the preparation ofpolyphenyls and also in the hydrogenation step, various isomeric phenylsand mixtures of phenyls will be formed, such for example as in themanufacture of partially hydrogenated terphenyls, some partiallyhydrogenated isomers thereof will be formed as well as partiallyhydrogenated phenyls, biphenyls, and quaterphenyls and the like.

The desired lubricating, anti-knock and antisludge characteristics aresecured when the partially hydrogenated aryl compound is present in thefuel in the ratio of 0.05% to 2.0% by weight of the fuel composition ormore specifically, when present in the ratio M one part hydrogenatedterphenyl per 264 to 214. parts by volume gasoline. Beneficial resultsare secured when more or less of the partially hydrogenated compound isemployed with gasoline or other corresponding liquid-burning fuels butit is best to make use of the least amount possible from the standpointof cost. and lubricating effects because no appreciable difference isapparent in the ability of the fuel to lubricate, to solubilize carbonor sludge and to burn at a relatively steady rate.

A partially hydrogenated compound with which excellent results aresecured when incorporated in gasoline is composed mostly of theterphenyls but includes some biphenyls and other polyphenyls. Thematerial hydrogenated to about 40% of its capacity is clear and mobileand has a high boiling point. It has a specific gravity of 1.0043003 at20 C. The material exhibits a tendency to super-cool with somecrystallization if maintained for a long period at temperatures below 5C. The vapor pressure is approximately 2 mm. of hg. at C. and 230 mm.hg. at 300 C. The vaporization point is about 114 C.i6. The material iscapable of dissolving waxes and resins and is fully compatible withlittle if any crystallization with gasolines under normal conditions ofuse.

By way of illustration, but not by way of limitation, the following areexamples of fuels embodying features of this invention:

Example I 31.2 pounds (3.7 gallons) of 40% hydrogenated terphenyl isadded to 1000 gallons of gasoline at ambient temperature and pressure. Aminimal amount of agitation is desirable in the absence of agitationwhich would normally result from handling or transporting the resultantsolvate prior to its subsequent use as a fuelfor an internal combustionengine.

It is understood that the foregoing example represents only oneproportionate mixture of gasoline and hydrogenated terphenyl whichproduces a fuel with the advantageous qualities previouslyparticularized, namely one part hydrogenated terphenyl to approximately264 parts of gasoline by volume. and that the proportion of the namedcompounds may be varied therefrom up to a proportion of one part ofterphenyl to 2144 parts of gasoline by volume as previously prescribed.All mixtures within the specified limits of proportions may becompounded according to the procedure outlined in the foregoing example.

Example II Biphenyl hydrogenated to 50% or its capacity and containingsmall amounts of similarly hy-' drogenated biphenyl, terphenyl and,phenyl is.

added to gasoline in amounts rangingfrom 0.05 to 2.0% by weight.-

Ezample III Isomeric quaterphenyls hydrogenated to 35% of its capacityand including similarly hydrogenated homologues such as biphenyl andterphenyl is compounded with gasoline in amounts ranging from 0.1 to 1%by weight 01' the gasoline to provide a new and improved liquid-bum- Iing fuel for internal-combustion engines.

oi being made without departing from the spirit or the invention,especially as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fuel consisting essentially of 1 part hydrogenated terphenyl and264 to 2144 parts by volume gasoline.

2. An internal combustion fuel consisting essentially of 1 part of abouta hydrogenated terpenyl and from 264 to 2144 parts by volume gasoline.

3. A liquid burning gasoline containing 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of apartially hydrogenated terphenyl.

4. A liquid burning gasoline containing 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of apartially hydrogenated aryl compound selected from the group consistingof biphenyls, terphenyls, quaterphenyls and polyphenyls, and mixturesthereof.

5. A gasoline containing 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of a 30% to%fiydrogenate'd' phenyi compound.

6. A gasoline containing 0.05 to 2.0% by weight oi a 30% to 60% arylcompound selected from the group consisting of partially hydrogenatedbiphenyls, partially hydrogenated terphenyls, partially hydrogenatedquaterphenyls and partially hydrogenated polyphenyls, and mixturesthereof.

GEORGE A. RIEKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oithis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Moeller et a1. Dec. 6, 1949

1. A FUEL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF 1 PART HYDROGENATED TERPHENYL AND264 TO 2144 PARTS BY VOLUME GASOLINE.